spring is full of New experiences!As we approach May, instead of seeing the activity slow down, there are new experiences in classrooms everywhere we look! Last week Grade 5 started to pilot curriculum resources which included implementing a socratic seminar in Linda Cote's classroom, elementary teachers were discussing changes to report cards, preschool students in Heather Smith's class were identifying coins (super cute!), Blackstone Regional Water Association visited the middle school to kick off students' Water Filter PBL project in Lauren LaJoie and Nikki Karayan's classes, Twenty-six high schoolers traveled to Anaheim, CA with Brian Kelly and Jamie Caprarella to participate in DECA's annual International Career Development Conference, while Erin Ellis' Marine Science students traveled to Gooseberry Island. So much going on! Inspiring to see all the new adventures that accompany spring! National School Principal DayLicensure renewalsAll professional staff are required to be working under DESE-issued educator licenses. As licensed professionals, it is our responsibility to keep our licenses up-to-date. If you don't know when your license expires you should log on to DESE's ELAR (Educator Licensure and Renewal) site to check it out (ELAR is off line until May 2nd while DESE upgrades it). In an effort to remind you, some of you have received notices from our Human Resource Office, if your license is coming up for renewal. Additionally, if you are newly hired and on an emergency license this year, you must apply for an extension. Please keep your building administrator and Laurie Petti in Human Resources updated on your progress. Let us know if we can assist in any way. Summer Curriculum ProjectsWe are seeking proposals from MURSD educators for paid summer curriculum projects for summer 2024. Projects will be selected based on how the project aligns to the District's goals and objectives of the Strategic Plan, School Improvement Plans, and other relevant factors. Priority will be given to collaborative projects with principal endorsement focused on the following areas:
--Cheryl We need you! Teacher Leader extra-Duty stipend RolesThis Wednesday we plan to post all existing stipend roles for 24-25 that are available at the current time. We'd like to encourage anyone who is interested, whether or not you've held a teacher leader role, to consider applying. Roles range from Department leaders (Department Chairs and Curriculum Assistants) to mentors, to sub coordinators, club coordinators and class advisors, and more. The accomplishments of the district rely of teachers like you to share your voice, ideas, and leadership. Reach out to your principal or to Cheryl if you have questions. Instructional Partners meet May 1st - 3:45Our Instructional Partner PLC will meet on Wednesday, May 1st at 3:45 in the central office conference room. We'll launch into Chapter 2 of Jim Knight's Partnership Approach to Improving Instruction, and check in with each other to hear about the collegial supports we've been working on for 24-25. Please RSVP if you haven't already on the calendar invite and reach out to Colleen, Cheryl or Brittany with questions. PD Committee Meeting - Tuesday, April 30th - 3:45Join members of the PD Committee for our third district-wide PD Committee meeting of the year in the Miscoe Staff Room. We'll review our accomplishments, ensure we re ready for May 17th, and start to turn our attention toward 24-25. We've got a great Committee, and anyone who'd like to join us is welcome! Massachusetts Partnerships for YouthMassachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) is sponsoring three upcoming conferences focusing on student mental health. Participants may attend in person, virtually or by viewing the recorded conference through a link that is active for seven days. Both conferences are free of charge for staff from MPY member districts. Kindly share the information below with your staff. SYSTEM BUILDERS: CULTIVATING SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH LEADERSHIP ASSABET VALLEY REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL APRIL 30, 2024 “System Builders: Cultivating School-Based Mental Health Leadership” will explore building comprehensive mental health systems that support all students’ wellbeing rather than investing in isolated initiatives. Speakers will address thoughtful and effective mental health supports grounded in an understanding of the impact of both individual and community-level trauma, while also responding to the context within a particular school and community. This conference will also detail efforts by the School Mental Health Leadership Institute (SMHLI) to prepare school leaders to address and drive change to build leadership capacity in their school or district’s mental health services. The School Mental Health Leadership is a joint effort between the Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, Massachusetts School Mental Health Consortium, and the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy. In-person registration closes April 24th at 5:00 pm. Virtual registration will close on April 29th. To register or learn more, please visit MPY’s website: https://massachusettspartnershipsforyouth.com/course/hybrid-conference-system-builders-cultivating-school-based-mental-health-leadership-apr-30-2024/ THROUGH A NEW LENS: UNDERSTANDING GENDER IDENTITY AND AUTISM ESSEX NORTH SHORE AGRICULTURAL & TECHNICAL SCHOOL MAY 7, 2024 Transgender and nonbinary individuals are three to six times more likely to be autistic than the cisgender population. Participants will gain a greater understanding of autism spectrum disorder and explore the connection between autism and gender identity and think critically about our role in supporting transgender autistic individuals. Presenters will offer strategies to support students and families with education, social/emotional resources, and community, in an inclusive atmosphere of validation and respect. To register or learn more, please visit MPY’s website: https://massachusettspartnershipsforyouth.com/course/hybrid-conference-through-a-new-lens-understanding-gender-identity-and-autism-may-7-2024/ VIOLENCE RISK ASSESSMENT AND DIVERSITY CONSIDERATIONS FOR WORKING WITH YOUTH ESSEX NORTH SHORE AGRICULTURAL & TECHNICAL SCHOOL MAY 14, 2024 This conference focuses on how violence risk assessment has evolved and examines the current tools that educators can use to identify students at risk. This presentation will address race, ethnicity, culture, and other intersecting identity variables as well as the relevance of context with violence risk assessment and management. Presenters will examine the use of data to evaluate risk factors associated with youth violence risk and how educators can use this data to inform violence risk formulation and management practices and strategies. Attendees will learn how to identify variables and discuss the relevance of those variables on both violence risk and management. To register or learn more, please visit MPY’s website: https://massachusettspartnershipsforyouth.com/course/hybrid-conference-violence-risk-assessment-and-diversity-considerations-for-working-with-youth-may-14-2024/ Please contact MPY Executive Director, Margie Daniels at [email protected] if you have any questions or need additional information. Please direct questions regarding registration to Bonnie Mullen at [email protected]. Summer LearningAI Day - June 20th - See beloweducators from across MA to "AI Day" hosted at Nipmuc Regional High School. This event has been organized by our very own Colleen Terrill and features Tom Driscoll as a keynote. See more details below. This is free to all in our district. Registration for the Foxborough Summer Institute is now open! Foxborough has been running a Summer Institute for the past 7 years to support teachers in earning the PDPs needed for re-licensure. This year, we are offering four 3-day courses on June 25, 26, & 27th from 8:30-2:30 each day.
Save the Date: June 20, 2024Mark your calendars on June 20, 2024! AI Day is coming to you! If you want to know more about the fast paced ever changing world of AI and how it is impacting education, then this day is for you! Join us on Thursday, June 20, 2024, from 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM at Nipmuc Regional High School for "AI Day". This day is dedicated to information, education and hands-on learning opportunities for AI and education. Explore AI tools for classroom use, lesson planning, evaluation, coaching, leadership, and productivity. Open to teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, and anyone interested in learning more. As LSDO members this event will be free for anyone attending from our district! Tech Tips7 AI tools that help teachers work more |
Many of you may be familiar with MassCUE's (Massachusetts Computer Using Educators) conference in the fall at Gillette Stadium. This year MassCUE decided to offer a second conference and bring it to Polar Park in Worcester. On Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1, 2024 you will have the opportunity to learn with educators across Massachusetts at the beautiful Polar Park baseball field. The theme of the conference is "Leveling the Playing Field". You can learn more about it and register through this link www.masscue.org/event/springconf24//. |
High School teachers have been engaged in "leveling up" authenticity this academic year. Aided by a 12-minute protocol that engages AI, educators have selected at least one of several key features of a unit/lesson that they'd like to focus on to create even more authentic learning experiences for students. Feedback from educators about the protocol has been incredibly positive. It is quick, it is collaborative, and it generates ideas from colleagues and AI that are immediately useful. Check out the resources on Nipmuc's Lead Learner website. |
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Last Tuesday's PD was a day of connecting and collaborating across the district, enabling vertical teams to trace a very focused part of a students' MURSD journey. There are so many to thank for facilitating our vertical teaming in the morning and curriculum/technology resource workshops in the afternoon. All the Department Leaders did a great job facilitating the conversations - thank you! Thanks also to several MURSD presenters including Rina Manser, Maria Desruisseaux, Tara Bennett, Darcy Daniels, Brianna Zalusky, Leah Hagen, Molly Smith, Liz Garden, and Nick Cuomo. Thanks to Colleen Terrill and her colleagues who offered super-cool workshops focused on technology resources. And, of course many thanks to all who helped get rooms ready, tech working, and lunch served including, Sam, Simon, the Nipmuc Office staff and custodians, and Brittany O'Neil. If you haven't already, please respond to our PD feedback form. Your Department Leaders will follow-up with you in the coming weeks about next steps in our curriculum review cycles. --Cheryl
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Elementary (for teachers and administrators K-5)
Spring: March 19- April 17, 2024 PDPs/Credits: 22.5 PDPs; 1 graduate credit ($160) |
Secondary (for teachers and administrators 6-12)
Spring: March 19- April 17, 2024 PDPs/Credits: 22.5 PDPs; 1 graduate credit available ($160) |
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Do you want to try some new technology in your class? Do you want to learn how you can enhance a lesson with technology? Maybe you have heard about Flip, Clips, AI tools, etc and you want to incorporate them into a lesson but not sure where to begin, I can help you. Just click this link Request an appointment with Colleen (also found on my email signature line) and we can figure out the best tool for the lesson.
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